REFLEXOLOGY IS AN ANTIDOTE TO THE TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN
Reflexology has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Depictions of people performing foot therapy have been found in Asia, right from the East in China and India, across to Turkey and Greece, Europe, as well as South America and Africa. There is an innate knowledge in all of us that applying pressure to certain areas will help alleviate pain. What’s the first thing you do when you have a headache? Apply pressure to the temples or back of the head. Or when we’re stressed and pushed to our limit – we subconsciously rub behind our ears.
These are acupressure points that cause a reflex response to happen within the body.
How does Reflexology work?
In two main ways:
On a purely mechanical and physical level, deep-tissue work on the feet helps to re-align the foot. With the invention of modern footwear, our feet have become distorted and squished in to narrow toe designs, heavy duty weighted boots, or backless things that make us grip our toes every time we walk, causing all sorts of mechanical changes in the original structure of our feet. This leads to compensation by other structures further up the body, in an attempt to keep us upright and balanced.
If there are fewer incorrect alignments and issues in the feet, our bones, joints, muscles and organs will have an easier time of it! Everything is connected to everything else via FASCIA, or connective tissue (more on this topic next time!).
In the last few years, there has been an increasing trend towards barefoot shoes – and there’s a reason why.
As well as helping to reset our feet to their natural shape, they allow our feet to spread and move in their natural way, helping to improve circulation of blood and lymph, which, through gravity, stagnate in our feet if there is restriction and tightness; toxins accumulate and this, in turn, sets us up for bad health and disease.
If the circulatory systems of the body are able to move more freely, there is more vitality within us as we receive the benefits of fresh oxygen circulating and cleaner blood and lymph servicing our cells.
We experience improved:
· Immunity
· Heart health
· Mood (decrease in anxiety and depression)
· Sleeping patterns
· Digestion and elimination
Hormonal balance
· Ability to deal with pain (physical and emotional)
· Ability to deal with acute and chronic stress
· Harmony
The maps and charts we use to pinpoint acupressure points that correspond to different parts of the body are a mixture of East and West:
· Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – this includes the energy system of the meridians and points along these lines
· Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine – including pressure points known as “marma” points and the chakra energy system
· Traditional Thai Foot massage – which also includes deep-tissue release and specific points and energy pathways
· The Ingham Method – developed in the 1920’s by a physiotherapist, Eunice Ingham, using zone theory (closely linked to TCM) and a realisation that the foot is an exact reflection in shape and size to our bodies!
· Tony Porter Advanced Reflexology, Hannah Marqardt, touchpoint neuro-flexology, Limbic system reflexology – all different modern schools of training and techniques
Reflexology is an ever-developing science – although still seen as a bit “mumbo-jumbo” by some, more research and evidence is proving that this is an important healing practice which can work harmoniously alongside allopathic medicine. If we encourage and take up the practice of holistic approaches to health and wellbeing from the start we come to rely less on our healthcare systems, preventing disease from the inside out.
The last two points, and, in my opinion, the most important, are that:
Reflexology gives us the opportunity to experience hands-on touch and one-to-one human connection.
In our increasingly disharmonious, disconnected and displaced world, loneliness, fear, anxiety, anger, violence, bitterness and grief have sadly become more prevalent in all societies and demographics.
The power of human touch, connection and community, however, is the key to over-riding these negative energies. Choosing to give or receive reflexology is an act of love, of care, of opening up to compassion and kindness.
Once we begin to do that for ourselves, we can take this state of wellbeing out in to the world with us.
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